Chapter 33:I only believe my own eyes.

Nora caught the fervor in Philly’s eyes—confusion deepened.

“What did Isabelle do to earn such defense?”

“Defend? Lady Ver needs none. She shields me. Daring to reject family puppetry—her gift.”

Philly tilted head.

“Duke Nora—misunderstanding Lady Ver?”

Her own puzzlement matched.

Days at Oracle—maids’ praise, personal impression: world saw Isabelle perfect.

Until Nora’s intrusion.

Innate bias—from entry, hostility to maids, Renia.

Why?

Nora: calm, rational heiress.

“Misunderstanding? Mistreating Celis—also misunderstanding?”

“Mistreat Celis?”

Philly glanced at Renia, doubtful yet curious.

Unbelievable—but hear Renia.

“Capital rumors. Lady Ver and Lady Celis… close. Doubt? Ask Celis.”

“Hmph. Coerced? Celis too kind—might hide to preserve my Oracle ties.”

Nora cold.

“Trust my eyes only.”

“Rose Knights training ground. Lady Celis there.”

Renia dispersed magic. Rare helplessness.

Location gained—Nora lost reason to linger. With Jenny, cold huff—strode off.

Gone. Philly bitter.

“Why none grasp Lady Ver’s intent?”

“If all did—she wouldn’t be Oracle saintess.”

Renia’s words stunned.

Yes. Universal understanding—goddess wouldn’t choose her.

Folly highlighted nobility.

Perfect saintess—thus.

Yet… Ver’s perfection lonely.

Misunderstood villain—Philly ached.

Perhaps Ver needn’t fight alone. She could help.

Sky: sun, not moon—yet stars.

First urge to leave Oracle.

…

Rose Knights grounds. Quakes, monster aura.

Sword summoned.

Monster scent—eternal vigilance. Bone-deep.

Entered—pupils dilated. Unbelievable.

Open field: dozen girls sprinting, sweat-drenched. Some pale—limits.

Yet no stop. Pursued: ferocious demon tiger.

Insane!

Death!

Nora slashed—tiger dead.

Runners noted—kept running.

Leader Leanna wiped sweat, approached.

Puzzled.

“Who? Why kill it?”

“Why? Chased!”

“Training.”

“Training?”

Nora misheard? Confirmed—shocked.

“Know if stamina fails—trampled? Injured?”

“Know. But skip now—battlefield deaths ours.” Joyna joined.

Good intent—but disrupted training.

Survival demanded this.

No life-death crisis—abyss fodder.

Nora disagreed.

“Even so—such training? Lives disregarded!”

“Who says? Lady Ver values lives—thus trains. Else battlefield—you save?!” Melin.

Post-secret: Isabelle=Celis—Melin fangirl. Understood villain mask.

Kept secret. Teammates badmouthed—ignored, no join.

Heart ached more.

Villainy—to protect.

Backstage efforts—countless.

Teammates: feared suspicion—silent.

Outsider badmouth—intolerable.

Nora stunned. Help—blamed.

Her Isabelle critique—harsher rebuke.

Ghostly.

Oracle: Philly, maids defended—cohabitants, perhaps lenient.

Knights too?

Blind to life-gambling?

Isabelle brainwash? Contact—loyal?

Then… Celis?

Worry surged.

“Fine. Others aside—Celis? Seek her.”